PHOTOCURABLE REINFORCEMENT OF 3D PRINTED HYDROGEL OBJECTS
The present disclosure provides reinforced hydrogel structures, methods of reinforcing hydrogel structures, and methods of treating ischemic disorders using the reinforced hydrogel structures.
1 . A composition comprising a three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel structure and a layer comprising a mesh immersed in a photocurable or photocured ink, wherein the layer comprising a mesh immersed in a photocurable or photocured ink is in contact with the structure.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises the shape of a tube, or is substantially the same shape, size, and/or has the same relative dimensions of an organ or a fragment of an organ.
3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the structure comprises a hollow tube comprising a first end and a second end.
4 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the structure comprises a first subtube and a second subtube, each having a first end, wherein the structure comprises the first subtube and second subtube connected to each other at their first ends to form a joint of the structure, and wherein the mesh contacts the joint.
5 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the mesh is contacting the first and/or second end of the tube.
6 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein a distance between the first end and the second end of the tube defines a tube length, and wherein the mesh is contacting a sublength of the tube defined by a distance from the first end and/or second end to a point on the tube that is X % of the tube length away from said first end and/or second end in contact with the mesh, wherein X is selected from about 0.01% to about 0.1%, about 0.1% to about 1%, about 1% to about 5%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 20%, about 20% to about 30%, about 30% to about 40%, or about 40% to about 50%.
7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the sublength comprises about 1 mm to about 2.5 mm, about 2.5 mm to about 5 mm, about 5 mm to about 7.5 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 1 cm, or about 1 cm to about 2.5 cm.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the mesh is substantially planar and comprises a thickness of about 0.01 μm to about 0.1 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm, about 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 100 μm to about 1 mm, about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 2 mm, about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm, or greater than about 2.5 mm.
9 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the mesh spirals around the tube sublength or encircles the tube on an inside and/or outside surface of the tube.
10 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the mesh is contacting an inside and/or outside surface of the tube.
11 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the mesh is contacting both the inside and outside surface of the tube.
12 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein the mesh is wrapped from the inside surface of the tube to the outside surface of the tube, around a tube edge at the first end and/or second end of the tube.
13 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the mesh is contacting either the inside surface or the outside surface of the tube and wraps around said surface.
14 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the mesh contacts a site of the structure that is for suturing, is cracked, is torn, is weakened, subject to mechanical stress, is thinned, is infected, or is diseased.
15 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the structure and mesh comprise a pull out force about 2.5 times to about 5 times, about 5 times to about 7.5 times, about 7.5 times to about 10 times, about 10 times to about 15 times, or greater than about 15 times greater than the pull out force of a same structure but lacking the mesh.
16 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the mesh, or one or more layers thereof, comprises polyglactin (Vicryl®), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), monofilament propylene (SoftMesh, Parietex-TET, TIGR, or Marlex), Dacron, Teflon, polytetraflourethylene, polycaprolactone (PCL), PGA/PCL mixture, PGA/PLA/PCL mixture, or a combination thereof.
17 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a polymerized (meth)acrylate and/or (meth)acrylamide hydrogel.
18 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a polymer comprising polymerized poly(ethylene glycol) di(meth)acrylate, polymerized poly(ethylene glycol) di(meth)acrylamide, polymerized poly(ethylene glycol) (meth)acrylate/(methacrylamide), poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone), polycaprolactone, polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamides, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, salts of polyacrylic acid, salts of polymethacrylic acid, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyvinylalcohol, polyanhydrides such as poly(methacrylic) anhydride, poly(acrylic) anhydride, polysebasic anhydride, collagen, poly(hyaluronic acid), hyaluronic acid-containing polymers and copolymers, polypeptides, dextran, dextran sulfate, chitosan, chitin, agarose gels, fibrin gels, soy-derived hydrogels, alginate-based hydrogels, poly(sodium alginate), hydroxypropyl acrylate (HPA), lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) and combinations thereof.
19 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the structure and the mesh have a burst pressure of 1,000 mmHg or greater and/or a suture retention strength of 1.5 N or greater.
20 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the mesh is adhered to the 3D hydrogel structure.